Due to a spate of injuries recently, India's ongoing home season has seen M Vijay Shikhar Dhawan and Gautam Gambhir occupying the opening slots at different times. "MSK had a conversation with me during the Ranji Trophy. I will have to give credit to him because I don't think any national selector has spoken to me before. This selection committee has actually told me that they are keeping a close watch on my performances. Apart from scoring 849 runs this Ranji season, Abhinav also impressed when he scored 77 and 169 against the pink ball in the Duleep Trophy at the start of the season.

Source: Times of India February 01, 2017 03:16 UTC